The alphabet first appeared during the Nomadic Period in what is now central Penkrot from 400 BCE to 200 CE and was originally used to write Ancient Dhweric.

In both languages, a vertical bar (Dhwer: hamb, Mbamigi: ɂab̃e), sits to the right of each consonant (to which the consonant is usually--but not always--attached. Vowel diacritics are written to the right of the vertical bar. Vowels are never attached to the vertical bar. Punctuation may be written above, below or to the left of consonants. It may or may not be attached to the vertical bar.